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Hello,
with Server 2019 I usually set up machines before I got the product key from the reseller, for this I downloaded the ISO from the evaluation center and then activated it via dism online.
Since I did not find an ISO for Server 2022 Essentials and I read that it's no different from the Standard version I thought it is maybe the same. Obviously I didn't do my research well.
So here I am, having a perfectly fine and finished set up Server 2022 Standard Eval and can't activate it with the Server 2022 Essentials key I got. Since Google is telling me I am the only one that made this mistake, I wanted to ask if there is any way to convert the Server 2022 Standard Eval to a Server 2022 Essentials? Or do I need to reinstall it from scratch?
dism doesn't work, same for the usual Windows activation:
If I do have to reinstall it, does anyone know where to get the Essentials-iso from?
Thank you!
You'll likely need to use licensed installation media.
--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Just checking if there's any progress or updates?
--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Your answer seemed more like "I believe" than "thats a fact" to me. Are you sure there is no way to activate the current installed Eval? And there is no way to get the ISO for the Essentials Server? I have no physical access to the server or the DVD. I am not even in the same country. And then there is another thing... DVD... it's 2022... I can download the ISO faster than image it from the DVD, even if I had an optical drive.
Boot from the install media and enter in the product key here.
--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
Just to be sure: with this I am able to activate it, and not reinstall it?
This is during installation using licensed installation media.
Just checking if there's any progress or updates?
--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--
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Hi DSPatrick,
I'm dealing with the same issue here
how did this work out for you?
Thanks
Anton
Hi,
I guess you wanted to ask me. If not - please excuse the interruption.
I managed to get an iso from the disc and reinstalled the whole thing. Made some config backups, but still quite annoying.
Good luck!
BR
Glad to hear, please don't forget to close up the thread by 
Hi Wfit,
Yes I meant to direct this to you
Thanks for the speedy response!
So the reinstall from ISO did not preserve any configurations?
and this was basically reinstall and redo for you or were you able to backup and restore ?
Unfortunately we have done quite a bit of work on the config of this server by the time we aware of this situation.
Thanks
Anton
I did a quick test in Hyper-V and it didn't work, it just installed a new OS. I don't know what DSPatrick tried to say, but I assume he's a bot or something.
I just backed up everything I was able to, formatted the disk and reinstalled Windows.
Thanks!
Sorry I dont have better news for you. If you find a way I would be interested how you did it (and maybe some other desperate guys in the future too).
Please help out "the bots" here by